The Ednaston Estate near Ashbourne is a very special rural environment
Few landed country estates can boast the fine scenery and charming surroundings of the Ednaston Estate. Nestled in almost 646 acres of beautiful countryside, just over five miles from Ashbourne, the vast estate has been home to generations of the Player family. It combines a diverse mix of woodland, farmland, sporting assets, water features and attractive residential properties.
Located at the heart of the estate is Dam Farm. This impressive lot comprises a striking red brick farmhouse – believed to be of 18th century origins – a good range of traditional outbuildings, two cottages and vast grounds, including lakes and productive arable land extending to over 222 acres. The approach to the farm ventures through woodland, over a dam and past open lawns, and the beautiful gardens that surround the farmhouse are particularly special. Following the sale of Ednaston Manor, Jane Player moved to the house in the late 1970s and over the following years, she created two acres of splendid gardens with rare trees, shrubs and plants. The gardens regularly opened under the National Garden Scheme and attracted visitors from across the country.
For purchasers seeking to create an even more substantial principal house on the estate, planning consent has been granted for a seven bedroom, 10,000 sq ft home to be built on the current site of Dam Farm. The tasteful new building would comprise a leisure complex and home cinema.
Two more wonderfully situated farmhouses include the predominantly Victorian house at Bradley Old Park South – which is located in the northern part of the estate and includes five bedrooms, outbuildings, a small lake, huge woodland area and about 277 acres of land – and the charming 18th century Wood Farm. This four bedroom property is sold subject to occupation by protected tenants.
Pretty thatched cottages and picturesque red brick properties, believed to have been constructed in the 1950s, are amongst the six homes that have vacant posession.
The estate’s diverse residential offering is enhanced by superb sporting assets. Lakes, brooks and fascinating hatcheries can be found throughout the grounds, with excellent trout fishing available on four main lakes and almost the entire length of the various brooks that flow through the area. The most impressive – Brailsford Brook – winds though the middle of the estate for over a mile and includes 64 weirs created during the early 20th century.
Furthermore, the carefully managed mature woodland includes strategically located game crops and hosts a quality pheasant shoot with twelve exciting drives – a testament to its superb upkeep.
Alongside the many leisure opportunities that the estate has to offer, it also enjoys excellent commuting links via the nearby A52 and the small hamlet of Ednaston is just half a mile away.
Estate Summary
The Ednaston Estate is offered for sale through Fisher German (01530 412821) and is available as a whole at £8,800,000 or in up to nine separate lots including:
• Dam Farm and surrounding land plus Brook Cottage, Garden Cottage and 222.98 acres of grounds
• Bradley Old Park South farmhouse, outbuildings and 277.44 acres of grounds
• Farmland and woodland extending to 124.55 acres
• Brailsford Gorse woodland extending to around 16.40 acres
• Wood Farm and 3.69 acres of grounds (subject to occupation by protected tenants)
• 1 Thatched Cottage
• 2 Thatched Cottages
• 1 Yeldersley Lane Cottage
• 2 Yeldersley Lane Cottages
Family connections
The Ednaston Estate has been in the ownership of the Player family – of John Player & Sons tobacco and cigarette manufacturing business fame – for many years. Known simply as ‘Player’s’, the company was established in Nottingham in 1877.
William Goodacre Player, a son of John Player, commissioned architect Sir Edwin Lutyens to design Ednaston Manor, which was built between 1912 and 1919. The Grade I listed building did not sit within the ring fence of the Estate and was sold in 1979. The Estate is now being sold by a Family Trust.
